In IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, you read a short everyday situation and write a letter of at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on it. The task gives you three bullet points: these are the things your letter must cover.
This Task 1 is for General Training only. (In IELTS Academic, Task 1 is a description of a graph, table, chart, map or process. See IELTS Writing Task 1 tips for that.) If you're applying for Canadian permanent residence (for example, through Express Entry), IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, not Academic.
Please note: the sample letters below are my original teaching examples, not official IELTS answers, and they have not been scored by IELTS. Use them to study structure and tone, not to memorize.
The Task at a Glance
| What you write | A letter responding to an everyday situation |
| Length | At least 150 words |
| Time | About 20 minutes (Writing is 60 minutes for both tasks) |
| Content | Three bullet points you must cover |
| Style | Personal, semi-formal or formal, depending on the reader |
| Format | Connected text (use paragraphs). No notes or bullet points. No addresses needed at the top. |
Task 2 (the essay) counts twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score, so don't spend more than about 20 minutes on the letter. Writing more than 150 words is not penalised, but a very long letter takes time away from Task 2.
How it's assessed: four criteria: Task achievement (how well your letter achieves its purpose; covering all three bullet points is a key part of this), Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource (vocabulary), and Grammatical range and accuracy.
Choosing the Right Tone
The task tells you who you are writing to. That decides your tone.
| Reader | Style | Opening | Closing (common convention) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A company or someone you don't know by name | Formal | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours faithfully, |
| A named person you don't know well (a manager, a landlord) | Semi-formal | Dear Ms Lee, / Dear Mr Patel, | Yours sincerely, / Kind regards, |
| A friend or family member | Personal | Dear Sam, / Hi Sam, | Best wishes, / Take care, |
"Yours faithfully" and "Yours sincerely" are the traditional British conventions that many teachers recommend for IELTS. The most important thing is that your opening, closing and tone match the reader and stay consistent.
A 3-Minute Plan for Any Letter
- Reader and tone: who is it, and how well do I know them?
- Purpose: in one sentence, why am I writing?
- One paragraph for each bullet point, with one specific detail each (a date, a number, a reason).
- Ending: what do I want the reader to do?
A common, clear structure (not a rule): opening sentence with the purpose → paragraph for bullet 1 → paragraph for bullet 2 → paragraph for bullet 3 → short closing line → sign-off.
Sample 1: Formal Letter (Complaint)
Task: You ordered a piece of furniture online, but it arrived damaged. Write a letter to the company. In your letter:
- describe what you ordered and when
- explain what was wrong with it
- say what you would like the company to do
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to complain about a bookshelf I ordered from your website on 12 March (order number 48215), which arrived damaged.
The bookshelf is the white five-shelf model, and it was delivered on 18 March. I paid an additional fee for delivery to my door, as I live on the third floor and could not carry it up myself.
Unfortunately, when I opened the box, I found that two of the shelves were cracked and one of the side panels had a large scratch along its full length. As a result, the bookshelf cannot be assembled safely. I have kept all the parts and the original packaging, and I have taken photographs of the damage.
I would therefore be grateful if you could arrange for a replacement to be delivered as soon as possible and collect the damaged item at the same time. If a replacement is not available, I would like a full refund, including the delivery fee.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Daniel Novak
Why it works: the first sentence states the purpose, each bullet point has its own paragraph with specific details, the request is clear, and the tone is firm but polite. (About 175 words.)
Sample 2: Semi-Formal Letter (Request to a Manager)
Task: You would like to take a short course that is held during your working hours. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:
- describe the course
- explain how it would help you in your job
- suggest how you could make up the time
Dear Ms Lee,
I am writing to ask whether I could attend a short course that takes place during my usual working hours.
The course is called "Project Management Basics" and is run by the local community college. It lasts eight weeks, with one class every Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m., starting on 3 April.
I believe it would be very useful for my role. As you know, I have recently started coordinating the delivery schedule for our team, and the course covers planning, setting priorities and managing deadlines. I would also be happy to share what I learn with my colleagues afterwards.
To make up the time, I could start work an hour earlier on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Alternatively, I could work on Saturday mornings during those eight weeks, if that would suit the team better.
Thank you for considering my request. Please let me know if you would like to discuss it.
Kind regards,
Maria Santos
Why it works: polite but not too stiff, a clear request in the first line, a practical benefit for the employer, and a concrete solution (three extra hours a week for three hours of class). (About 160 words.)
Sample 3: Personal Letter (to a Friend)
Task: A friend is going to visit your city for the first time next month. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- say how you feel about the visit
- suggest some places to visit
- give advice about what to bring
Dear Sam,
I was so happy to get your message! I can't believe you're finally coming to visit next month. It's been almost three years since we last saw each other, so I'm really looking forward to it.
There's so much I want to show you. On the first day, we could walk along the seawall and rent bikes in the big park near the harbour. You love food markets, so I'd also like to take you to the public market on the island, where you can try fresh seafood and local berries. If the weather is clear, we could take the gondola up the mountain for an amazing view of the city.
As for what to bring, pack a good raincoat and comfortable waterproof shoes. It rains a lot here at this time of year, even when the morning looks sunny. Also bring a warm sweater, because the evenings can get quite cool.
Let me know your flight details and I'll pick you up at the airport.
Best wishes,
Ana
Why it works: a warm, natural tone, contractions (I'm, can't, I'll), each bullet point covered with specific details, and a friendly ending. (About 170 words.)
Useful Phrases
Opening the letter (purpose first):
- Formal: I am writing to complain about… / I am writing to enquire about…
- Semi-formal: I am writing to ask whether… / I am writing regarding…
- Personal: It was great to hear from you! / I'm writing to tell you about…
Making requests:
- I would be grateful if you could… / Would it be possible to…? / Could you let me know…?
Explaining and giving reasons:
- The reason for this is that… / As a result,… / This means that…
Closing lines:
- Formal: I look forward to hearing from you.
- Semi-formal: Thank you for considering my request.
- Personal: Can't wait to see you! / Write back soon.
Common Mistakes
- Missing a bullet point. Every point needs to be covered clearly. Tick them off as you write.
- The wrong tone. "Hey!!" to a company or "Dear Sir or Madam" to your best friend.
- No clear purpose. The reader should know why you are writing after the first sentence.
- Mixing styles. A formal opening with a very casual closing, or slang in a formal letter.
- Writing the letter as notes or a list. IELTS requires connected text, not notes or bullet points.
- Spending too long on Task 1. Task 2 is worth twice as much, so keep to about 20 minutes.
- Memorized introductions. A long learned paragraph that doesn't fit the situation sounds unnatural and wastes time.
Keep Practising
- Compare with the CELPIP email task: CELPIP Writing Task 1 sample emails.
- For complaint and request structure, see the lesson Complaint and Request Emails.
- Polite phrases for requests: How to Ask Politely and Say No in English.
- Get quick feedback on your own letter with the AI writing assistant, or see IELTS preparation with Masha if you want a teacher to check your writing.